Variable gear



May 9, 1939. A. STEINKAMP VARIABLE GEAR 2 Sheefs-Sheet 1 Filed July 6, 1937 INENTOR.

1. s 'ailg/Cauqo ATTORNEY.

y 1939- A. L. STEINKAMP 4 2,157,776

VARIABLE GEAR Filed July 6, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 mgf zz I INVENTOR. l9. L. S teinkoqmza ATTORNEY.

Patented May 9, I939 UNHTED STATES telesales ails i940 FFICE 6 Claims.

The invention relates to variable gears and its object is to provide a gear in which means are provided for changing the number of teeth thereon at will.

A further object is to provide a gear with means by which the shape of the gear may be changed so that the peripheral speed of the gear at its point of contact with the pinion or other connecting part may be varied during each revolution whether the gear shaft is rotated at a constant or varying speed.

Another object is to provide a variable gear with means by which a constant peripheral speed at its point of contact with the connecting rotatable part may be obtained when the gear shaft is rotated at a constant speed.

Another object is to provide a variable gear with means by which a constant peripheral speed, at its point of contact with the connecting rotatable part, may be obtained when the gear shaft is rotated at a varying speed. I

The invention consists primarily of a flexible member carrying teeth adapted to be adjusted peripherally to vary the number of operating or active teeth thereon and means to retain the carrier in any adjusted peripheral position and form.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan view, partly broken away, of a device embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the device.

Fig. 3 is a fractional view of the flexible band or carrier.

Fig. 4 is an end view of said band.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the holding member for the band.

Fig. 6 is an elevation of the holding member partly in section.

Fig. 7 is a plan view, broken away, of the device having a modified form of the band and holding means.

- Fig. 8 is an elevation partly in section of said modified form.

Fig. 9 is a view of a fraction of the modified band and Fig. 10 is an end view of the same.

Fig. 11 is a plan View of the holding member used with the modified form of the band and Fig. 12 is an elevation partly in section of the same.

Fig. 13 is an elevation of the holding means and band taken at X, Fig. 7.

Fig. 14 is a sectional view of the upper anchoring member for the modified band and Fig. 15

is a sectional view of the lower anchoring memher for said band.

Referring to the illustrative embodiment of the invention, I is a disk revolubly mounted on the shaft 2. A spring 3 tends to rotate the disk clockwise. A series of cam slots 4 is formed in theclisk and each slot receives a pin 5 that projects from a tubular member or sleeve 6 slidably mounted on a shaft or spoke I which projects radially from a hub 8 that is rigidly mounted on the shaft 2. A key way 9 is formed in each shaft I and receives a pin II) that is secured to the sleeve 6 and prevents the rotation of the sleeve6 on the shaft.

Toothed holding members II, I2 are revolubly mounted on the upper ends of the pins l0 respectively, each member having a series of openings I3 therein, in any one of which a pin l4 may be inserted, which will so engage the sleeve 6 below it as to lock the member to the sleeve. Each member I I, I2 may be locked to its supporting sleeve, or one or more of them may be similarly locked as desired.

- A flexible band I5, having its ends overlapping, has a series of properly spaced openings or recesses IE or teeth 3| formed thereon, and a series of properly spaced teeth IT projects from the band. The openings It or teeth 3| engage with one or more teeth on each member II, I2. A driving or driven pinion (not shown) will mesh with the teeth IT.

The overlapping ends of the band iii are preferably located adjacent to one of the holding members, as member II, and they are prevented from radial separation by two flanges l8 and I9 which are mounted on the sleeve 6, between which flanges the overlapping ends of the band extend. The inner end of the band is fixed to the fiange l8. By pinning the member II to the sleeve 6 below it, the member II is fixed so that the band will not expand and the overlapping teeth on the band are held inalignment for a given setting.

The area enclosed by the band may be changed in various ways, two of which are shown.

One method is to release all of the locking pins I4. The member II at the point where the ends of band I5 overlap, is then rotated in the proper direction to increase or decrease the number of active teeth on the band. All of the members I I-, I2 are moved in or out radially, simultaneously due to the spring 3 acting through the disc I, the cams 4, and the pins 5, thereby maintaining the same radial pressure against the band I 5 at the points of contact with the holding members. The pins [4 are then returned to locking position In the modified form illustrated in Figs. '7 and. 8, the band l9 carries no teeth on its edges, but has the openings or recesses or teeth 3| formed thereon. Adjacent one end of the band [9 are two projections 2|, 22 at opposite edges of the band. The ends of the band overlap with the end carrying the projections 2| and 22 being outermost. The projections 2| and 22 are secured to members 24 and 23 respectively, which are in turn secured to the sleeve 6 and to the top end. of pin l0, respectively. The upper member 23 is above the holding member II and the lower member 24 is below the holding member I I. The band is thus attached at one end to one of the sleeves 6, the other end preferably underlapping the fixed end. The toothed member H engages the openings or recesses in the underlapping end of band IS. The teeth of member ll engage the underlapping end of band l9 only. The pulleys 25 mounted on the pins ID of the remaining sleeves 6 respectively are engaged by the band and prevent the band from moving axially along the shaft 2.

In the modification, a toothed member 26 engages the band [9 and is revolubly mounted on a bracket or support 21. A pinion 28, rigidly mounted on the shaft of the member 26, meshes with a gear 29 mounted on the arm 3!]. Suitable tension means, not shown, will be applied to the members 21, 30 so that the member 26 will at all times engage the band irrespective of the shape or size thereof. Power will be taken from or applied to the gear 29.

What I claim is:

1. A variable gear comprising a flexible gearengaging member having its opposite ends overlapped, a shaft, and radially adjustable members supported on the shaft and having toothed engagement with the flexible member for holding the flexible member in any position relatively to the shaft.

2. A variable gear comprising a flexible gearengaging member having its opposite ends overlapped, a shaft, members radiating from the shaft and means slidably mounted on the members and having toothed engagement with the band for holding the band in any adjusted position relatively to the shaft.

3. A variable gear comprising a. shaft, 2. series of members radiating from the shaft, a sliding member on each radiating member, a cam carrier revolubly mounted on the shaft, the sliding members having engagement with the cams respectively, tooth-carrying members mounted on the slidable members and a flexible band having tooth-engaging means thereon engaging the tooth-carrying members.

4. A variable gear comprising a shaft, a series of members radiating from the shaft, a sliding member on each radiating member, a cam carrier revolubly mounted on the shaft, the sliding members having engagement with the cams respectively, tooth-carrying members mounted on the slidable members, a flexible band having tooth-engaging means thereon engaging the tooth-carrying members and. resilient means tending to hold the tooth-carrying members in engagement with the band.

5. A variable gear comprising a shaft, a series of members radiating from the shaft, a sliding member on each radiating member, tooth-carrying members mounted on the slidable members and a flexible band having tooth-engaging means thereon engaging the tooth-carrying members.

6. A variable gear comprising a shaft, a series of members radiating from the shaft, a sliding member on each radiating member, tooth-carrying members mounted on the slidable members, a flexible band adapted to engage the toothcarrying members and having its opposite ends overlapped and cooperating means on one of the slidable members and on the band for preventing radial separation of the overlapped ends of the band.

ALBERT LOUIS STEINKAMP. 

